The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-01
THE LITTLE ISLAND OF REIL
1t Is in the Human Head and Is the
Most Wonderful Isle in the World.
Instances of How Persons Lose the Power of
Calling Things by Their Right Names,
and Yet Are Perfectly Rational

size, It's area not TO DC measured Dy square
miles even acres, is by far the most wonder
ful isle in the world. 1t is ucs located in any
school atlas and it is quite unlikely that it has
place upon any shipman's chart with its lati-
tude and longitude correctly given, yet it is the
seat Of the most wonderful and ceaseless ac-
tivity, being engaged not only in the mlghtest
operations of commerce. but in all the ntrca-
cies of science and art. Notwithstanding its
Importance its discovery is recent All the
great navigators from Noah down to Captain
Cook, whose disappearance Immediately pre-
ceded FIJI ciambake sailed by it, leaving its
discovery to John Christian Rel. who was not
a navigator at all. but a German anatomist
born in February, 1889. and who died in Berlin
in November. 1913, for the Island of Rel is an
isle of the brain. IAN isolated cluster of con
volutions at the bottom of the fssure of Eilvius
between the anterior and middle lobes of the
cerebrum.'
Anyone can locate this mighty island in his
own head by placing the finger just in front of
the left ear. at the top of the ear, and drawing
a line forward toward the eye and little
above. The island is about one and three
quarter inches in length 1t seems to be III
ton, and almost separate portion of the cere-
brum. When this little island is disturbed by
a shock some strange things take place 1t is
sometimes impaired by blows the temple
in external injuries. but when harmed from in
ternal causes, which are much more frequent
the injury is caused by plugging up Of
the branch of the artery that sup
plies that portion of the encephalon.
It is sometimes harmed through inflam-
nations connected with the internal
ear. When the Island of Rel is properly
nourished it is fair and beautiful. filed with all
manner of wonderful things, but when its proper
supply of moisture from the life-gvng artery
fails deadly drouth comes and everything
dies. On the other hand, if the arterial current
is too strong and its supply greater than is
needed the island becomes overgrown with
wild tange and all is confusion.
The island is the seat of language and of
memory. and during the last thirty years has
been closely studied by students of brain diseases
especially various forms of aphasa- Aphasia is
the loss of power of speech, or. usually under
stood. the partial or complete loss of the power
to artlculate speech from cerebral difficulties
Amnesic aphasia is the loss of memory of words.
The movements necessary for speech remain
intact. but the words needed will not come, or
if they do, cannot be expressed. Sometimes
only certain kinds of words forgotten, or it
may be even only parts of certain words, so that
common for old persons to forget proper names
Ataxic aphasia is the loss of speech owing to in
ability to execute the various movements of the
tongue and lips necessary for speech. When a
person afflicted attempts to speak the effort re-
suits in mere grimaces and inarticulate sounds
In this phase of disease the patient may still be
able to give expression to his thoughts by writ
Ing Agraphia is another phase in which the
nerve centers are so attacked that writing is not
possio
II the incomplete formation of this portion of
tie brain in children there are examples of
aphasia existing from the time they begin to
speak until they become masters of the Ian
guage. These frequently very interesting
acd amusing and are long remembered in the
annals of household humor. and related with
pleasure. The curious expressions that infants
make in describing things caused by the i'm
perfection of this part of the brain, and it may
really be called one of the organs of the brain.
Large numbers OF persons moro less
aphasic from infancy, and increase of years and
protracted study seem to cure what is much
defect as deformed arm or leg. In suffering
and stammering the deficiency comes much
from the Island of Riel from any assumed de-
fciency in the vocal cords Aphasia in its
lighter forms is shown in MANY ways. none of
which is more frequent than that of person
who, in attempting to speak the name of
an individual. name with which he
is perfectly familiar, suddenly finds himself
unable to make the com animation necessary to its
utterapces. There are many notable examples
of this. In some cases it comes unpleasanty
who, being suddenly called upon for his name
was unable to give it. It had seemingly been as
completely obliterated from his memory if it
had never found Judgment there, and when, at
his request restored by friend, he was hardly
satisfied, thinking perhaps a substitution had
been made and that he was entertaining a
founding Pliny notes of the tor Messiah
Corvinus that he forgot his own name and moth
ing else. A frequent modern form of aphasia is
to forget the names and faces of ones creditors,
though remem bering perfectly where their bust
ness houses are located, and remembering too,
like Dick Swiveller, to take. another thorough
fare when going about the city
The Island of Rel is so intimately related
with not only the organs of speech but in com
munication with other portions of the brain,
where ideas are stored away for use, that it
seems an organ of combination, much like nm in
with chords attache ed to different keys
or like telephone exchange, connecting many |
of different wires. The diseases of
this organ present series of most curious nhe-
nomena from the simplest loss OF word to ex |
press idea up to complete loss of all power OF
expression. and yet the individual suffering the |
loss may be perfectly sane and competent to |
transact business, or follow any occupation. |
In answer to an inquiry to tho number of |
aphasic persons at the ospital for the insane |
DIR. Fletcher, the superintendent of that institu-
ton, said There are really but few. l knew |
a remarkable instance of aphasia in the city |
awhile ago. The subject had formerly been |
railread engineer One day while sit
tackled with a sudden faintness, and |
fell to the floor. When taken up |
be was rouno TO Dc partly paraIyZed. but In |
few weeks regained all his normal powers ex
cept that of expression in speech. That his ideas
were perfectly clear was shown by the fact that
he was able to understandingly do various pieces
Of work about his home, and that when his wife
would give him the grocery book to go to the
store, and have written the list of
the material she desired the errand would be
performed. He would carefully ex-
anime the articles given him and determine
whether he wished them or not. but his only
power of verbal expression was the two words
how do and whether he wanted the article or
refused it his sole expression. going and coming,
was how do This was some five years ago,
Ind the man continues in the same condition to
his day. An instance where IDEAS were ex-
pressed in odd form was given by patient
n the hospital He could write after copy
when placed before him, but when the copy
.emoved he could not sign even mis- own name.
When shown the picture Of camel and asked
@ write the name, he could not do so, but ex-
pressed his idea by saying. desert far off,.
Another patient who had been struck over
he temple with pick recovered from the first
n;rry with almost complete aphasia. He would |